Attempted homicide charge stands for Janesville woman

JANESVILLE  A man who accused his girlfriend of trying to stab him said Monday in court that he didn't want her to be accused of attempted homicide.

Linda K. Demontigny, 36, of 2121 Pioneer Road, Janesville, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, strangulation and misdemeanor battery. She was arrested after police responded April 18 to a report of a stabbing at her home.

Rock County Court Commissioner Charles Holznecht on Monday bound Demontigny over for arraignment. She was released from Rock County Jail after paying a $1,000 cash bond.

The man said he sent Demontigny a text message on Mothers Day to wish her a good day and tell her not to worry about the charges, he said Monday in court.

"I'm not going to let that charge stick because there's no way," the man said. The two have been in a relationship for longer than three years, he said.

According to the criminal complaint, the man told police that Demontigny was mad at him because he did not come home the night before. In court Monday, he said she accused him of smoking marijuana with her children.

The man told police that when Demontigny let him in, she came up behind him, grabbed him by the neck and said, "This ain't working. One of us have to die," according to the criminal complaint.

Demontigny tried to stab the man in the neck with a large kitchen knife, but he blocked the knife and was stabbed in the hand instead, according to the complaint. The woman's son was able to get the knife from her.

He said Monday in court he wasn't sure at what point during the altercation he was stabbed. He was able to see the knife as Demontigny reached over his back, he said.

The man told police he went into the bathroom and tried to clean his wounds when Demontigny grabbed him again and tried to choke him, according to the complaint.

He did not go to the hospital to have his injuries treated, he said.

The man said he did not try to fight back. The last time he did, he was accused of felony strangulation, he said.